Freelance Kitchen Designer

Independent Food; Remote; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading food service company in the United Arab Emirates seeks a Freelance Kitchen Designer responsible for designing efficient and code-compliant commercial kitchens. This role demands collaboration with chefs and architects to optimize workflows while adhering to health and safety regulations. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience, a degree in a related field, and proficiency in design tools like AutoCAD and Revit. This position plays a critical role in supporting restaurant operations and ensuring high-quality food environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in designing commercial kitchens for restaurants, hotels, or foodservice brands.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards (HACCP) and local health codes.
• Portfolio of kitchen designs or as-built examples is required.

Responsibilities

• Design and plan commercial kitchens for new restaurant locations and remodels.
• Select and specify kitchen equipment appropriate for concept and volume.
• Ensure all kitchen designs meet local health and safety regulations.

Skills

Design tools proficiency

Communication

Project management

Education

Degree in Industrial Design or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

KCL

Job description

Job Overview

As a Freelance Kitchen Designer, you will be responsible for designing efficient, safe, and code-compliant commercial kitchens that support our restaurant operations and growth strategy. This role involves close collaboration with chefs, operations managers, architects, and construction teams to deliver high-performance kitchen environments for new builds, renovations, and prototype updates.

You’ll play a strategic part in ensuring our kitchen designs support consistent food quality, staff efficiency, and compliance across all locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and plan commercial kitchens for new restaurant locations and remodels, ensuring optimal workflows.
• Develop kitchen layouts including prep areas, cooking lines, cold and dry storage, dishwashing areas, and service pass-throughs.
• Select and specify kitchen equipment appropriate for concept, volume, and service model.
• Prepare detailed equipment plans, mechanical schedules, utility connection diagrams, and installation documentation.
• Ensure all kitchen designs meet local health and safety regulations, building codes, ADA compliance, and brand standards.
• Coordinate with architects, MEP engineers, and general contractors to integrate kitchen design into overall project plans.
• Conduct operational reviews with culinary and operations teams to validate kitchen layouts.
• Maintain and update kitchen design templates and standards as the brand evolves.
• Conduct site visits during construction and post-opening to verify implementation accuracy.
• Research new equipment and technologies that enhance productivity, food safety, and energy efficiency.
• Assist in budgeting and procurement processes by sourcing cost-effective and reliable equipment.
• Support franchise development with adaptable kitchen designs for various restaurant formats (mall, standalone, food court, etc.).

Other Duties

Regular attendance in conformance with the standards, which may be established by the company from time to time, is essential to the successful performance of this position.

Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the organization.

Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Design, Commercial Kitchen Design, Culinary Architecture, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in designing commercial kitchens for restaurants, hotels, or foodservice brands.
• Proficient in design tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, KCL, or similar kitchen layout software.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards (HACCP), local health codes, and restaurant kitchen best practices.
• Familiarity with kitchen ventilation, fire suppression, and energy-efficient equipment.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and communicate clearly with both design and operations teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Portfolio of kitchen designs or as-built examples is required.